Ablative case

Grammatical case used in some languages

For other uses, see Ablative case (disambiguation).

Overview

The ablative case is a grammatical case used in various languages to indicate a relationship of separation, origin, or movement away from something. It is commonly found in Latin, Sanskrit, and other Indo-European languages. The ablative case often conveys meanings related to "from," "by," "with," or "in." In some languages, it also expresses the means or instrument by which an action is performed.

Diagram illustrating the use of the ablative case in Latin.

Usage in Latin

In Latin, the ablative case is one of the six main cases and is used extensively. It serves several functions, including:

• Separation: Indicating movement away from a place or person, e.g., "ab urbe" (from the city).
• Instrument or Means: Describing the means by which an action is performed, e.g., "gladio" (with a sword).
• Cause: Explaining the reason for an action, e.g., "timore" (because of fear).
• Time: Specifying the time when an action occurs, e.g., "tertia hora" (at the third hour).

Usage in Sanskrit

In Sanskrit, the ablative case is known as the "ap_d_na" and is used to denote the point of origin or separation. It is one of the eight cases in Sanskrit grammar and is often used in conjunction with verbs of motion or separation.

Other Languages

The ablative case is also present in other languages, such as Turkish and Finnish, although its function and form may vary. In Turkish, the ablative case is used to indicate movement away from a location, while in Finnish, it is used to express movement from a surface or a point of origin.

Related Grammatical Cases

The ablative case is often compared to other cases that express similar relationships, such as the dative case, genitive case, and locative case. Each of these cases has distinct functions and uses, depending on the language.

Related pages

• Grammatical case
• Latin grammar
• Sanskrit grammar
• Indo-European languages